Chelsea

More than just the home of Jiffy Mix, the city of Chelsea (pop. 4500) has embodied the virtues of progressive small town living for nearly 190 years. Classic neighborhoods surround its historic city center where festivals run all summer long. The city's picture-perfect downtown boasts the popular upscale bistro the Common Grill, just a block away from the award-winning Purple Rose Theatre --founded by local resident, actor Jeff Daniels.

Pick up a bottle of Michigan wine at The New Chelsea Market. Drop by the Chelsea Gallery to take in some fine art or socialize over coffee and dessert. Take a class at the Chelsea Center For The Arts. The city may be overflowing with time-out-of-place charms, but it's very much attuned to what makes a downtown vibrant. And if that isn't here-and-now enough for you, DaimlerChrysler's Proving Grounds are situated just outside the city's limits.

Features

In a community filled with long established arts and culture nonprofits (some over a century old), launching a new organization can be tough going. Concentrate shines the spotlight on three fledgling groups that could help seed the ground for the next generation of creators and audiences.

Having a microbrewery in your community is great. Having a craft brew ecosystem is freakin' awesome! And that's just what Washtenaw County has. What started decades ago as a small homebrewers scene has grown into a beer-o-sphere that includes hop growers, small batch pioneers, a craft brew organization for women, and even beer-flavored suspense novels.

Recent upheavals in Ann Arbor's performing arts scene have left some worried about the state of local theater. Concentrate takes a look at where things are now, where they might go next , and who's filling (or not filling) those seats.

…Or How Kids Learned To Stop Hating Veggies and Love Kohlrabi. Agrarian Adventure brings educational programs to a dozen different Ann Arbor area schools, helping kids better understand where their food comes from and even how to grow their own.

Good things come in small packages. Or, in this case, batches. Meet Nathan Hukill, who has turned a part-time hobby into a full-time gig, making limited barrel runs under his microbrew moniker, Bitter Old Fecker Rustic Ales.

Innovation & Job News

Matt DeLong has wanted to run his own company for a long time. But what pushed him to finally act on that desire wasn’t the stereotypical belief that he could build a better mousetrap or do the job better his way.

In the News

Having friends in high places helps when you're an arts organization. The Purple Rose Theatre Company is celebrating its 25th season and founder Jeff Daniels appears along with Timothy Busfield in an ad promoting the theatre company's ...